SIBERIAN COAST TRADE

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1682, 25 May 1904, Page 2

SIBERIAN COAST TRADE

WHAT RUSSIA WANTS.

The whole coasting trade between Vlaclivotstock and adjoining places contiguous to the Peter the Great Bay is in the hands of the Chinese (says the “Marine Journal.”) There has been much heated discussion how to take this business from alien hands and place it in the hands of Russian subjects, but nothing has -resulted thus far. There are a few Russian sailing schooners and some vessels of the Chinese Eastern railroad cruising along the ooa-st, but they cannot, it se emus* displace the HUNDREDS OF CHINESE BOATS which carry the bulk of the local prol- - It is recommended that a sufficient number of barges be provided for, all the ports where the Chinese Eastern railroad steamers touch. Such barges’, like the Chinese junks, should be adapt-* ed to shallow water. They should be suitable for carrying agricultural products and timber. Knowing the schedule time of the steamers, the barges could 1 bo loaded up in time to be taken in tow. .When cargoes are discharged here the barge-s could be towed back again. A second suggestion throws light on the .limitations in national mercantile marine matters in this provinces Russian subjects are not allowed to settle at will along the coast and establish villages, farms, etc., unless they are employed an THE FISHING INDUSTRY. Tliere is an abundance of fish, but of a variety the Russians do not fancy for food, using it almost exclusively for manure. The Russian peasant is not. a fish eater, and the fisherman’s life offers no attractions to him. It is too labors ious and dangerous. .But the -suggestion that they be allowed to settle along the coast, independent of the fishing profession, and that they would soon become mariners and gradually crowd out the Chinese junk men seem to be accepted as a solution of the problem. By Russian law two-thirds of the crews on all the Russian vessels must be Russian subjects. All masters, mates, and engineers must be Russians. -